Why Is Google Chrome Freezing After Update? Find Simple Fixes for This Disappointing Problem

What Should You Do When Chrome Won’t Open or Keeps Freezing After Update?

Google Chrome, trusted for its speed and smooth browsing, has left many feeling disappointed after a recent update. Suddenly, it won’t open or freezes on many Windows and Mac computers. This guide explains what’s happening, why it matters, and clear steps you can take to get back online.

What’s Happening?

Chrome refuses to open

Click the icon and nothing happens. No message. Sometimes, Chrome runs in the background, but no window appears.

Chrome opens, then freezes

The browser might start for a moment, then stop responding. You might see buttons vanish, images scrambled, or scrolling that just doesn’t work.

Mostly on Windows and Mac

Users on both systems are affected. Windows users see Chrome refuse to start. Mac users see immediate freezing.

Why Is This Happening?

Latest Update, New Bug

The trouble started with Chrome version 138.0.7204.100/.101.

Common Experiences

• No error message, just silence.
• Task Manager (Windows) may show Chrome running, but nothing opens.
• Sometimes, a tiny admin pop-up flashes, but the browser stays closed.

Community Reports

Google support forum experts say it’s a known issue. Google is reviewing it but hasn’t fixed it yet.

What Are People Saying?

A Mac user described Chrome as frozen: “Scrolling is frozen, buttons don’t click, photos and text are scrambled or half-loaded”.

Some Windows users noticed Chrome breaking right after a Windows 11 update or after Chrome auto-updated. Reinstalling Chrome does not help, and people worry about their bookmarks.

Past issues involved antivirus software, but that does not seem to be the main issue this time.

Workarounds You Can Try

These aren’t permanent fixes, but they help some users browse while waiting for an update:

For Windows

Solution 1: Uncheck ‘Run as Administrator’

1. Right-click Chrome shortcut
2. Select “Properties”
3. Go to Shortcut tab
4. Click “Advanced”
5. Uncheck “Run as administrator”
6. Click OK and Apply, then relaunch Chrome

Solution 2: Turn Off Hardware Acceleration

1. Open Chrome (if possible)
2. Click three dots in the top-right corner
3. Go to “Settings” > “System”
4. Toggle off “Use hardware acceleration when available”
5. Relaunch Chrome

Solution 3: Try a Different Profile or Reset Chrome

Use Chrome’s Settings to reset or switch to another user profile. This can help if the problem is tied to your user account.

For Mac

Solution 1: Force Quit and Restart

If Chrome freezes, force quit from the menu or use the Activity Monitor, then try again.

Solution 2: Try Hardware Acceleration Toggle

Mac users can also toggle this setting in Chrome’s preferences.

For All Systems

Use Another Browser

If you need to browse now, use Firefox, Edge, or another option.

What Not to Do

Don’t uninstall Chrome unless you back up bookmarks and passwords—uninstalling usually doesn’t help, and you might lose your data.

Avoid hunting for older Chrome installers online—these may be unsafe or incompatible with your system.

Waiting for an Official Fix

Google is aware and investigating. No official fix is out yet, but experts believe an update is coming soon.

Future versions (138.0.7204.157/.158 and newer) may resolve this problem. Check for updates by opening the three-dot menu in Chrome, click “Help”, then “About Google Chrome”.

Final Tips

• Stay positive—most fixes are quick, and this problem doesn’t appear to result in lost data for most users.
• Check frequently for Chrome updates, as a patch can arrive any day.
• Bookmark important pages while using an alternative browser to avoid losing track.